Changes in loneliness, social isolation, and social support and risk of dementia: a gender‐disaggregated analysis of community‐dwelling older adults

In later life, persistent loneliness among women and incident loneliness among men was associated with an increased risk of dementia. In this initially healthy cohort, very few participants reported social isolation and low social support at baseline and follow-up, and neither was associated with dementia risk. Early identification of poor social connections, particularly loneliness, and timely intervention to prevent its progression into a chronic state may help maintain cognitive health and delay cognitive decline and dementia onset.